I have been thinking about kindness lately, so this is a good prompt. I have been thinking of how pain and bad circumstances and trials and even tragedy can bring out the kindness in you. It can break your heart in order to heal your heart. I think empathy is most often a result of a damaged soul, not a symptom of a carefree life. In many ways I have not had the most prosperous life, but I have had a plethora of kind people and I see and understand more that their kindness to me has increased my kindness to others. It takes whatever you have to be kind. Words or silence; time or money, laughter or tears, hugs, smiles or prayers. Somehow kindness melts our hearts and though life may still be harsh…
Autumn breezes sweep
Snow protects the undergrowth
Spring thaws us softly
Posted at dVersepoetspub.com
Prompt is a haibun, tight paragraph (or 2) with an ending haiku. The theme is kindness.
mehflowers 
“Spring thaws us softly….” as does kindness. Very lovely.
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I like the idea of breaking the heart, so empathy flows, in order to heal it.
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I think kindness makes the tough parts or the enduring pains a little more bearable. I like how you use the seasons there in the end, because I think we go through seasons as well. Of lack and want, of need and have – and when we have we can give. When we don’t – we have to learn to accept gracefully that which is given to us.
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A thoughtful consideration of kindness. Wonderful haiku. I love the analogy of spring thaw!
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I love how the seed of kindness can multiply and cause others to give kindness in turn ~ I can’t wait for spring actually, smiles ~
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Wonderful! I wholeheartedly agree, too.
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I apologize for getting to your submission so late. I lost internet (!) yesterday during the prompt and just got it back sometime early this morning. wonderful haiku at the end. Spring and kindness do melt us.
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This is so true… when we need it the most any kindness is hugely valuable… maybe that’s why it’s so important with any nugget of kindness
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I think your thoughts on empathy is very moving, and definitely has some merit. Who better to identify with occasions where kindness is most needed than those who have been there themself. This who prompt has had me doing all kinds of thinking about kindness. A very good prompt indeed! I like the way your haiku moves through the seasons and end with a positive. Nice work.
Pat
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